Advancements in Spinal Cord Injury Repair: Insights from Dental-Derived Stem Cells

Biomedicines, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030683 · Published: March 19, 2024

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition with limited treatment options. Stem cell therapy is being explored as a promising treatment avenue. Dental-derived stem cells are attractive because they are easily accessible and can differentiate into neural cells. Dental-derived stem cells, such as those from dental pulp, exfoliated deciduous teeth, apical papilla, and dental follicle, can potentially repair SCI in animal models at both tissue and functional levels. Further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms, conduct large-animal studies and clinical trials, compare stem cell types, and optimize delivery systems to enhance the therapeutic potential of dental-derived stem cells for SCI repair.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Animal models

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Dental-derived stem cells (DPSCs, SHED, SCAP, DFSCs) show potential to differentiate into neural cells and promote SCI repair in animal models.
2
Various treatment approaches are being explored, including stem cell transplantation, conditioned culture medium injection, bioengineered delivery systems, exosomes, and combined therapies.
3
Direct transplantation of dental-derived stem cells shows promise in treating acute and chronic SCI, emphasizing their role in promoting neural regeneration and functional recovery.

Research Summary

This review explores the potential applications of dental-derived stem cells in SCI neural repair, covering various treatment strategies. Assessing the clinical effectiveness of dental-derived stem cells in the treatment of SCI, further research is necessary. Dental-derived stem cells offer advantages over other MSC sources due to their ease of accessibility, good proliferation potential, neurogenic differentiation and neurotrophic capabilities, and negligible ethical issues and minimal invasiveness. Despite promising results, current research faces limitations including a predominant focus on murine models, small sample sizes, and the complexity of SCI models leading to variations and inconsistencies.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

Further research, including large-animal studies and clinical trials, is needed to translate the promising preclinical results into effective clinical treatments for SCI patients.

Treatment Optimization

Optimizing treatment protocols, including stem cell selection, differentiation methods, delivery systems, and combined therapies, can maximize the therapeutic potential of dental-derived stem cells.

Personalized Medicine

Future studies should focus on improved control and adjustment of dental stem cell treatment outcomes for personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual patient needs.

Study Limitations

1
Predominant focus on murine models, lacking large-animal studies and clinical trials.
2
Small sample sizes in some studies, potentially compromising statistical significance.
3
Lack of distinctly delineated advantages and applicability of different dental stem cell sources in SCI treatment.

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